Humber enjoying 15 minutes of fame

Waking up early to accommodate requests following his perfect game Saturday has prepared White Sox pitcher Philip Humber for one important task.

Humber's wife Kristan is expecting the couple's first child on May 8.

Humber admitted he was tired after handling the media requests but appreciated hearing experiences in a telephone conversation Monday with the Sox's No. 1 fan -- President Barack Obama.

"It definitely is an honor to speak to him," said Humber, who was named the American League player of the week for April 16-22. "He just wanted to congratulate me. He even asked about Kristan and the baby and asked about how that was going.

"He shared some of his experience of being a new father. He's a very nice man, and he represents our country in a good way. He's definitely a great communicator, and I appreciate him talking to me."

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Monday's activities consisted of several radio interviews, the Sox's lowering ticket prices for Thursday night's game -- Humber's next start, against the Red Sox -- and reciting the popular Top 10 list on "The Late Show With David Letterman."

"I think it went (well)," Humber said. "I can't wait to see it, and hopefully I didn't embarrass myself too bad. It sounded like I got some laughs."

Despite the price of fame, Humber is content to make the most of it.

"I'm just trying to be myself, and I know it's something that's like your 15 minutes of fame or whatever," he said. "I really try as much as I can to represent what I believe in and represent the White Sox well. I just want to be appreciative of it. It's throwing a perfect game.

"Like I was telling people, it's not something you do, but it's something that happens to you. Enjoy the moment and try to remember all of it. But at the same time, our guys have done a good job of getting most of it out of the way."

Clemens 'trapped' by deceit

All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens is tangled in a web of deceit that he made for himself, prosecutors said as they fired their opening salvo in the retrial of his perjury case.

Not only did Clemens lie to Congress about his use of steroids and human growth hormone, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Durham told the jury, but he crafted a cover-up story to mislead legislators and protect his own reputation.

Clemens could have chosen to "be a hero" when he testified to the House Committee on Government Oversight and Government Reform and admit his mistakes, Durham said, but instead he chose to lie.

"He became trapped and couldn't get out, that's why we're here," he said.

Clemens was charged with perjury, obstruction of Congress and making false statements after he told the House committee during a 2008 hearing that he had never used steroids or HGH. Clemens said the injections contained vitamin B12 and the painkiller Lidocaine.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner's testimony contradicted the findings of baseball's Mitchell Report, which named Clemens as one of 89 players who had used performance-enhancing drugs.

Lengthy arguments about what evidence each side can use meant Rusty Hardin, Clemens' lead attorney, will have to wait until Tuesday morning to make his opening statement to the jury. But arguments in court Monday hinted at the direction he will take.

Attacking the credibility of Brian McNamee, a strength coach who said he injected Clemens with performance-enhancing drugs, probably will be a core part of the defense's argument.